Class Details:

ItineraryOur TR Water Rescue classes will complete the class lectures prior to Practical exercises, therefore, it is offered soley as a series with testing at the conclusion of class. Students will need to download the NCOSFM lesson plan prior to the class.

Meals: Students will need to provide their own meals throughout the course. During the lake and river practical sessions lunch will be in the parking lot of the river or lake so a bag lunch will be in order. Traditionally, we enjoy an entire class supper at a local restaurant during week #2 following the first river or lake day.

Transportation: Due to the remote distances between our training sites, students are encouraged to consider carpooling to lake and river sites. Locations for suitable and challenging water flow rates are limited throughout the state. In order to provide a realistic and challenging training experience, it is necessary to travel to rivers or lakes up to 1-2 hours away in some cases.

Attendance: Students must attend 90% of the class in order to receive credit per NCOSFM policy.

Class Delivery & Testing: Due to the complex logistical demands of this course, this course is delivered as one series, therefore, the written exam is delivered as one test rather than separately. In addition, all practical skill sets are delivered within the course, as well.

Course Overview

The North Carolina Technical Rescuer Water Rescue series is comprised of several modules offered over a two-weekend series that enables the student to obtain the requirements needed to obtain full IFSAC certification for water rescue. (in addition to fulfilling the requirements for TR Rescuer). Completion of the Technical Rescuer certification is not required for attendance but strongly recommended as certification will not be awarded to the student until all requirements for TR Water rescue are fulfilled.

The OSFM TR Water Rescue series is a 48-hour series specifically designed to fulfill the NFPA 1006 MINIMUM Job performance requirements (JPR's) for those agencies who have the responsibility of surface and swiftwater rescue responses.

This a general knowledge course with minimum skill performance. It is considered a general introduction of a variety of surface water and swiftwater/flood problems that does not provide enough practical time in swiftwater environments to be considered proficient for swiftwater rescue team certifications.

This is a physically and mentally challenging course! Candidates with phobias of swimming class I & II or III rapids, extremely cold water, or extensive health problems (heart, trauma, respiratory...) are discouraged from attending this course!

Swim Tests & Practical Skill Sets:

The Technical Rescuer candidate must demonstrate the ability to assume a correct swimming posture and swim for 300 yards and tread water for ten minutes in an aquatic environment (pool) both without and with flotation devices. This demonstrates a two-part exercise that validates a candidate’s ability to swim and maintain their safety in a surface water environment without the aid of any devices, as well as, demonstrate the difference in swimming with a device. For Swiftwater Rescue; Students must also complete a 50 & 100 yard sprint in a pool, as well while wearing a Type III or V PFD and retrieve a simulated victim. This skill set will mimic the endurance needed to perform aggressive rescue swimming in a moving water environment.

Per NC OSFM policy...Each student must successfully complete of all required practical skills in order to sit for the Written exam. No partial credit is awarded.

Skills acquired within the course include:

Rescuing and extricating an accident victim from the water.

Safely swimming in swiftwater and maneuvering so as to negotiate river hazards and obstacles at various water levels.